The Trade - July 31 Red Sox acquire SS Orlando Cabrera (from Expos), 1B Doug Mientkiewicz (from Twins) Chicago Cubs acquire SS Nomar Garciaparra, OF Matt Murton (from Red Sox) Montreal Expos acquire SS Alex Gonzalez, SS Brendan Harris, RHP Francis Beltran (from Cubs) Minnesota Twins acquire LHP Justin Jones (from Cubs) Did it help? Looking for improved team defense and better clubhouse morale, Red Sox GM Theo Epstein traded fan favorite Nomar Garciaparra to the Chicago Cubs in a blockbuster four-team deal that netted Gold Glove winners Orlando Cabrera and Doug Mientkiewicz for Boston. The trade proved to be one of the most critical in Red Sox history as Cabrera and Mientkiewicz helped lead Boston to it's first World Series championship in 86 years. Cabrera hit .379 with five RBI during Boston's historic seven-game ALCS series victory over the New York Yankees. Mientkiewicz, who platooned at first base, caught the final out in both the ALCS and World Series. Garciaparra's Cubs, meanwhile, missed out on the postseason.

The Trade - July 31 Red Sox acquire SS Orlando Cabrera (from Expos), 1B Doug Mientkiewicz (from Twins) Chicago Cubs acquire SS Nomar Garciaparra, OF Matt Murton (from Red Sox) Montreal Expos acquire SS Alex Gonzalez, SS Brendan Harris, RHP Francis Beltran (from Cubs) Minnesota Twins acquire LHP Justin Jones (from Cubs) Did it help? Looking for improved team defense and better clubhouse morale, Red Sox GM Theo Epstein traded fan favorite Nomar Garciaparra to the Chicago Cubs in a blockbuster four-team deal that netted Gold Glove winners Orlando Cabrera and Doug Mientkiewicz for Boston. The trade proved to be one of the most critical in Red Sox history as Cabrera and Mientkiewicz helped lead Boston to it's first World Series championship in 86 years. Cabrera hit .379 with five RBI during Boston's historic seven-game ALCS series victory over the New York Yankees. Mientkiewicz, who platooned at first base, caught the final out in both the ALCS and World Series. Garciaparra's Cubs, meanwhile, missed out on the postseason. (ELISE AMENDOLA / AP)

The Trade - July 31 Red Sox acquire SS Orlando Cabrera (from Expos), 1B Doug Mientkiewicz (from Twins) Chicago Cubs acquire SS Nomar Garciaparra, OF Matt Murton (from Red Sox) Montreal Expos acquire SS Alex Gonzalez, SS Brendan Harris, RHP Francis Beltran (from Cubs) Minnesota Twins acquire LHP Justin Jones (from Cubs) Did it help? Looking for improved team defense and better clubhouse morale, Red Sox GM Theo Epstein traded fan favorite Nomar Garciaparra to the Chicago Cubs in a blockbuster four-team deal that netted Gold Glove winners Orlando Cabrera and Doug Mientkiewicz for Boston. The trade proved to be one of the most critical in Red Sox history as Cabrera and Mientkiewicz helped lead Boston to it's first World Series championship in 86 years. Cabrera hit .379 with five RBI during Boston's historic seven-game ALCS series victory over the New York Yankees. Mientkiewicz, who platooned at first base, caught the final out in both the ALCS and World Series. Garciaparra's Cubs, meanwhile, missed out on the postseason.